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tintinn16 · 4 days ago

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no no no no no no NO! Not surprised but still NO!😂 I already miss sweet days with Zee and plants💜

Closed Position: Week 8 (Viennese Waltz)

Closed Position Masterlist ||| Main Masterlist Dieter Bravo x OFC (Katarina)

Series Summary: Dieter Bravo, now sober, was looking to change his bad boy image after hitting rock bottom. His team hoped that having him join the nationally televised family friendly dance competition, Dancing with the Stars, would be a good first step, if they can keep him out of trouble.

Katarina Stamos expected her last season as a professional dancer on the show to go the same as it had for the past thirteen seasons. That all changed when she was partnered with the infamous Dieter Bravo.

Dieter and Katarina are reluctantly thrown into their partnership and must learn to work together to succeed in the competition. In the process they form a deeper connection beyond the dance floor that neither anticipated.

Chapter Word Count: 10.6K

👉 Fic Warnings: Sexual tension, mutual pining, angst, so much smut (we get a little dom and sub Dieter, intimacy, use of a sex toy, sex acts in public, spanking...really it's all too much to list here - it's Dieter, use your imagination), spicy language, themes dealing with intimate partner violence (not by Dieter), past alcohol abuse, past drug abuse, and shitty parents. This will be a slow burn. Read at your own risk. Cat dad / plant dad Dieter comes with his own warnings.

👉 Chapter Warnings: Self-sabotaging thoughts, sassy Dieter, smutty stuff (light dom/sub dynamics (Dieter's in charge), restraint with hands and body, nipple biting, finger sucking/biting, fingering, p in v, intimacy), so much angst.

Note: In case you missed it, check out this post before reading. There will be call backs to a couple of past conversations. It may help to have a refresher.

Chapter Quote: “Don’t tell me that or you’re gonna lure the horndog out again. He’s not above dry humping a thigh.”

Kat's POV

The last two and a half weeks with Dieter had been nothing short of perfect as we settled into a new routine. I had hardly been home, now spending all of my time with him at his place or rehearsing. It almost felt like it had always been this way. Our lives were quickly falling into place so seamlessly, to the point that I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and allowing the doubt to slowly creep in. I knew this couldn’t last forever, and it was stoking a fear in me that I didn’t really understand. I couldn’t pinpoint the cause, so I tried to pack it away in a box in the back of my mind. However, its presence never ceased. Lurking. Festering. Waiting for the thing that would unleash it.

Tuesday morning, I was stepping out of my car in the Television City Studios lot ahead of our weekly production meeting with Stacia and Joe. The moment I closed the door, I was met with several paparazzi coming toward me. I was momentarily stunned given they shouldn’t have been on the property, but I tried not to let it get to me as I made my way toward the main entrance at a brisk pace.

I tried to ignore them, but they made it damn near impossible as they shouted questions my way and followed too closely.

“Kat, how are you feelin’ about Dieter’s new relationship?”

I couldn’t help smiling to myself. His Instagram posts really were causing a stir. “I couldn’t be more happy for him,” I replied.

The pap moved in closer, “Have you met her? What do you think?”

I had to bite back a chuckle as I continued my brisk walk, “I know her well. They both seem very happy.”

They were beginning to crowd me as another yelled, “Do you think it’s serious? Do you really think it’s gonna last given his history as one of Hollywood’s biggest playboys?”

Something about that question made my gut turn. I didn’t bother to answer, pushing past them as I inhaled a deep breath to calm the sudden uneasiness. It was about that time one of the security guards caught sight of the intruders and came to my rescue, stopping the paps in their tracks as I entered the building. I was feeling flustered as I approached Dieter, who was already seated in the lobby with our usual coffees. After a glance, he stood and met me halfway.

His brows were furrowed with concern as he asked, “You OK?”

I nodded, “Yeah…just some paparazzi caught me in the parking lot. I’m good…just wasn’t expecting it.”

He rolled his eyes, “That’s bullshit. Security needs to do better.”

I sighed, “Yeah, I mean they stopped them. It’s fine.”

He looked about as confident as I felt with my response as he handed my cup of coffee over. I gave him a tight smile in thanks as we moved to sit on the small couches. My mind kept circling back to that comment about him being one of Hollywood’s biggest playboys. It wasn’t like it was a secret, but for some reason it was getting to me today. I pushed the thought aside, blaming my insecurities as I turned to face Dieter. I was surprised to find him staring at me, the crease still present between his brows.

I gave him a small smile in an attempt to brush things off, “So, what do you think we’ll get stuck with this week?”

He pursed his lips in thought, “Hmmm, my vote is on the Samba.”

I huffed out a laugh, “God, I hope not. My hips need a break from Latin dancing.”

He fought a smile as he leaned in closer to speak in a quiet voice only I could hear, “You sure the problem isn’t from all the horizontal dancing?”

I snorted out a laugh, “No, definitely not. If anything, that makes me forget my issues exist.”

His eyes briefly dropped down to my lips as he smirked. I could tell he wanted to kiss me, but refrained given the public setting. He leaned back into the couch, licking his bottom lip as he looked at me in a way that could only be described as sinful. “I hope they put you in purple this week. You look good in purple.”

I chuckled, “That’s random. Why purple?”

He was smiling now, “I was just thinking of that SNL photoshoot, when they had you in that deep purple dress. The color looked amazing against your skin. That purple bikini looked pretty fucking hot too…”

His words made my heart flutter. Knowing that he noticed the purple dress before anything had happened between us and actually remembered it was hitting kind of different. It definitely took my mind off the negative thoughts I had been having a few minutes prior. The mention of the purple bikini also had me thinking about everything that happened after it came off.

A PA chose that moment to appear out of nowhere, letting us know that Stacia and Joe were ready for us. We stood, and made our way to the conference room where we were met with two very agitated looking executive producers. There was a tense energy in the room as we took our seats across from them. I could feel Dieter’s leg press against mine under the table. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to help me relax or seeking reassurance for himself.

Their eyes focused on Dieter for a beat before Stacia finally spoke. “I’m gonna need for you to tell me what the hell is going on because we’re getting inundated with calls from the press.”

Right to it then…

Dieter shrugged nonchalantly, “I’m gonna need you to be a little more specific…because I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Stacia scoffed, “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. You know exactly what I’m talking about…the social media posts? The mystery brunette with you on the beach that’s plastered all over the tabloids? You’ve got nothing to say about that?”

I glanced over at him, just in time to see the side of his lips twitch upward. “What is there to say? That I’m seeing someone? It’s my personal life. I didn’t realize I needed your permission.”

Stacia looked like she could have punched the smug look off his face. I had to bite my bottom lip to keep from laughing over how worked up she was getting. She leaned forward, pinning Dieter with her eyes as they flashed with anger, “If it affects this show, then yes, you need to give a heads up. Our ratings may plummet over this, you realize that right? The fans have bought into shipping you two, and if they can’t do that, then they won’t watch.”

Dieter huffed out a laugh, “Kat and I never agreed to that narrative. That was all you guys. I’m not gonna stop living my life just because of some bullshit story line you two dreamed up on our behalf for a reality show that’s supposed to be about DANCING. There was nothing in my contract that forbid me from doing it, so you can fuck right off with that attitude.”

I rolled my lips together as I fought a burst of laughter. Funny enough, Joe seemed like he was trying to do the same as Stacia’s mouth fell agape. She scoffed in disbelief as she sunk back into her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.

Joe leaned forward as he held his hands out in a peaceful gesture, “Look, you’re right. We have no say in your personal life. A head’s up still would’ve been nice so that we could expect the influx of inquiries from the press. It’s been nonstop since you made those posts and that TMZ article went up. We just need to know how to handle this.”

Stacia chose that moment to break into the conversation, her eyes now on me. “Is it you? Are you two tryin’ to play some clever game because you got caught?”

I couldn’t help my eye roll that followed. She thought she was so smart. She was obviously on to us, but I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction.

“I think it’s up to Dieter if he wants to divulge the details of his love life. As far as I’m concerned, it’s none of your business and I’m not saying a word about it. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get to the reason we’re here and discuss this week’s performance.”

She let out a controlled breath as her nostrils flared. It was obvious she was about to snap.

“Why have you been so combative this season?” she asked.

I shook my head, “I’m not being combative right now. This is a Dieter thing…not a me thing. So, I’m removing myself from the discussion.”

Dieter snickered quietly beside me. I could tell he was enjoying himself way more than he probably should be, but I couldn’t fault him for it because I was too.

Stacia threw her hands up in frustration, “So what the hell are we supposed to tell these reporters that keep calling for comments?”

I watched Dieter as he gave her a sarcastic smile, “How about nothing? No comment? We don’t comment on the private lives of our cast members? It’s not that fucking hard.”

There was something about him being like this that was melting my insides. I was proud of him for standing up for himself - for us. I was also insanely turned on by it too.

I shifted my attention back to Stacia, who was sitting still, staring Dieter down with wide eyes. Joe sighed before reaching for the folder in front of her, pulling out the costume sketches for the week and sliding them over to us.

Dieter smirked as he peered down at them, bumping his leg against mine as he spoke, “Hmm, lavender is a good color. I approve.”

I couldn’t help the smile on my lips as I leaned over to look at the sketches. His day had obviously been made by the light purple gown they had me in. The front of it was in the shape of an X, crossing over the chest with a triangular cut out around the navel. The back was completely open. The bottom half looked to be made of a lightweight flowy fabric. Dieter would be wearing a matching light purple shirt with dark trousers.

I nodded in approval as I slid the sketches back toward Joe. He gave me a tight smile, “Good. You’ll be doing the Viennese Waltz this week. I’ll have the music sent over.”

He looked away, shuffling papers in the folder, seemingly dismissing us. Stacia continued to watch us with a sour look on her face as we stood to leave.

Both of us nearly burst into laughter as soon as we were in the lobby. I could have kissed him right there, but held back as he smiled at me.

“That felt fucking amazing. Right?” he finally said.

I chuckled, “It did, honestly. I’m not sure they’ve ever had so much resistance before. It’s driving Stacia crazy that she doesn’t have control right now.”

His smile widened, “I know we’ll probably regret this later, but totally worth it to see her face.”

I moved in closer, gently tugging on the front of his shirt, “You know…it’s kind of hot when you put your foot down like that.”

He was beaming now, causing his cheek to dimple and eyes to crinkle in that way I love.

His eyes scanned the area around us before settling on mine as he leaned in, “How about we have lunch at your place today before we head to the studio?”

I snorted out a laugh, “I don’t think lunch is what you’re after.”

His brows arched, “No? I do actually plan to have a very nice meal…and maybe even some dessert…”

I peered up at him with a smirk, “I fear we may not make it to rehearsal…”

He feigned shock and clutched his chest before shifting into a mischievous grin, “I would never skip rehearsal. I'm a good student. Besides, I’m fully capable of being quick with my meals. It’s the number of servings that get me in trouble. You’ll just have to cut me off before I’ve had my fill…so long as you’ve had yours.”

Two and a half hours later, we finally made it to the dance studio after thoroughly having our way with each other as soon as we stepped through my front door. Both of us were still feeling giddy and energized from our exploits as we stretched out on the floor to listen to the song for this week.

I turned over on my back as I hit play. The song wasn’t new to me. It was a popular song used for the Viennese Waltz in competition, but for some reason, hearing it now felt different. My skin broke out in goosebumps as I really listened to the lyrics for the first time. They were striking a nerve, causing me to suddenly feel on edge for absolutely no reason.

When it ended, I turned to look at Dieter. He was stretched out on his side with his head propped on his hand, staring at me. The space between us suddenly felt heavy with tension. This tension felt different, almost smothering.

I cleared my throat, avoiding his gaze as I asked, “So, what’re your initial thoughts on this one?”

He sighed, “Well, I think it’s talking about the vulnerability and fear that comes with a new relationship where there’s a deep emotional connection…and overcoming the obstacles after past struggles. Having that fear of opening up and letting them in…trusting again after being hurt.”

It was obvious to me then, this song was everything I was trying to shove in that little box hidden in the back of my mind. As if I needed a reminder. Maybe this was the universe’s way of forcing me to deal with those feelings.

I gave him a weak smile, “Yeah, that sounds right. So…how do we wanna translate that to dance?”

He shrugged, “I guess, maybe focus on the vulnerability and connection? The internal battle?”

I nodded, sitting up before moving to stand. I needed to change the topic. “Yeah, sounds good. So, let's go over the hold and footwork…then we can get into the choreography.”

Dieter stood, framing up his arms without prompting. He already knew the drill.

I walked around him, observing his frame before moving in to make adjustments. “You’re probably gonna hate this one because it’s a very unnatural position to put your body in. Your shoulders should be down with your elbows up and you’ll need to bend your knees. It’s definitely not a dance for beginners.”

He groaned as I essentially manhandled him into the correct position. “You’re right, I hate it already. This is gonna wear my back out isn’t it?”

I chuckled, “Yeah, probably. But hey, at least it’s not a Latin dance. Our hips will finally get a break.”

He snorted out a laugh, “No they won’t.”

I could feel the heat creeping up my face at his implication. I shook my head, fighting a smile as I moved to stand in front of him to take my position.

“Alright you horndog…focus.”

He mumbled out a quiet, “Sorry,” before rolling his lips together to hold in his smile.

I was still smiling up at him as I continued, “This is called a rotary dance because of all the turns involved. It has a 1-2-3 fast-paced rhythm that consists of natural and reverse turns and change steps that should be smooth and elegant. We should have sort of a rise and fall as we move, but you have to make sure your shoulders stay parallel with the floor as we maintain the closed position. Your footwork has to be precise or it’s gonna look messy.”

He followed as I led him into the steps, talking him through it as we moved around the room. He, of course, picked up on it quickly. I gave him a smile of encouragement as he took over leading after several minutes.

“This is another one of those forbidden dances. When it first came about, couples were dancing with little to no contact between them. It was very scandalous as you can imagine. So, leaning into the space between us, being close together is part of it.” I added.

He was fighting a smile, “Don’t tell me that or you’re gonna lure the horndog out again. He’s not above dry humping a thigh.”

I couldn’t help the cackling laugh that slipped out as I melted against him. He seemed delighted with himself as his face lit up from eliciting such a response from me. His arms tightened around me as he leaned his forehead against mine, “God, I love it when you laugh like that…best sound ever.”

Movement in the hallway caught my attention, causing me to sober and pull back from him. It was just a random staff member of the studio passing by, but it was enough to bring me back to the real world - reminding me that we had to watch ourselves here.

We got back to it after that, beginning our process of planning out the routine. Wednesday and Thursday went much the same way. We had a fairly well choreographed dance in place by the time we had filming on Friday.

As the week wore on, I noticed that I was feeling strangely disconnected from it all. I could feel myself dissociating as Dieter and I danced, causing a weird energy to buzz between us. Dieter seemed to pick up on it, often asking if I was feeling ok. I brushed it off, chalking it up to feeling tired, but deep down, I could feel something brewing. I couldn’t put words to it. All I knew was that it felt terrible and destructive.

Dieter seemed to be extra attentive in the evenings, making sure I was taken care of. It was more than I deserved from him considering I was slowly building a wall between us as I drowned in my thoughts and fears about our future together.

As we got ready for bed Saturday night, after an unusually quiet evening, I could see it in his eyes. He could feel the shift in me. We were standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom as he pulled my hair back into a single braid. I avoided his gaze as he watched my reflection. When he finished, his arms snaked around my waist, hugging my back to his front as he buried his face in the curve of my neck. It felt like he was trying to anchor me to him - keep me present and pull me back from whatever dark place I was slipping into.

He stayed like that for a while as I leaned my head backward against his shoulder and reached up to run my fingers through his messy hair. I felt strangely disconnected from the scene being reflected in front of me, almost like I was having an out of body experience.

Dieter inhaled deeply before finally pulling away. I gave him a small smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes. Afterward, we undressed each other as had become the routine. He crawled into bed behind me and pulled me against him just as tight as before. We lay in the dark for a time in silence.

“I feel like you’ve been distant for the past few days. Is something bothering you? Did I do something wrong?” he eventually asked.

I didn’t really know the answer to that question. I could confidently say he hadn’t done anything wrong, but I didn’t understand what I was feeling, so I lied.

“No, you haven’t done anything. I think…I’m just wearing down. I haven’t had to dance this much in a long time.”

He didn’t say anything, but the tense set of his shoulders told me he wasn’t buying it. I turned to face him, wrapping myself around his body as he tangled his limbs with mine. After nuzzling my face into the nook under his chin, I took a few minutes to simply exist with him surrounding me. I welcomed his warmth as it sunk into bones. I inhaled his musky scent, allowing it to calm me as I tried to understand why I was feeling this way.

We stayed that way through the night, clinging to each other like it was our last night on this planet. I needed it. It helped bring me back to him, or so I thought.

My downward spiral hit hard on Sunday. I was nearly feeling back to normal when I awoke with a consuming need to have Dieter. We hadn’t been together since lunch at my place on Tuesday, which suddenly had me feeling empty and needy as I watched him sleep.

I let my hand trail down the smooth contour of his back, making small circles that caused him to squirm against me in his slumber. He looked so relaxed, the permanent crease between his brows nearly nonexistent. His lips parted slightly as he inhaled deep, steady breaths. His hair was a mess of fluffy curls that hung down over his forehead. He really was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

My hand moved to trace along the curve of his nose with the tip of my finger, which seemed to rouse him from sleep. His dark eyes blinked open just as my thumb grazed across his perfectly pouty lips. He smiled, eyes crinkling at the corners as he pulled me a little closer against his chest.

We didn’t speak, instead choosing to get lost in each other's gaze as our hands explored - gliding over any exposed skin they could reach. Something crackled in the air around us, creating an intensity that I wasn’t expecting, making me feel a little emotional as I sought out his lips with mine.

His kiss was slow and sensual, yet still passionate and needy. He took his time, letting the need simmer as his mouth moved against mine with soft touches and gentle sucks. It had my body burning for him as his large palm rested on my neck, grasping under my jaw with his thumb and fingers as he used his weight to shift me onto my back. Something about it made me feel possessed by him, like I was his. Oddly enough, it was exactly what I needed at that moment.

He tilted my head slightly, allowing him to capture my lips and deepen his kiss. His tongue licked into my mouth as his hand released my face and moved south. The backs of his fingertips lightly grazed between my breast and down my stomach before settling at the apex of my thighs, rubbing tight circles in the place I needed it most. His fingers dipped lower to spread my arousal before returning to the sensitive bud. His lips moved lower, placing open mouth kisses along my neck, pausing only to nip along my shoulder with his teeth.

He moved lower still, teasing a nipple with his tongue before nibbling with his teeth. He didn’t bite hard, but it was enough to make me gasp as it sent a jolt of electricity through me. I arched into him as his lips suctioned around the peak and sucked it through his teeth. I let out a quiet whine as he repeated the motions to the other side.

By the time he sunk his fingers into my wet heat, I was near the edge, it only took a few curls against that sweet spot to push me over. He was leaning above me now, his eyes on mine, pupils blown wide as he watched me fall apart under his touch in a way that no one else had ever been able to accomplish.

I went limp, melting into the bedding as his hand moved upward, rubbing along my hip while he gave me a chance to regain my senses. A devilish smirk formed on his lips as his hungry eyes roamed over me. I let out a controlled breath, reaching for his face, allowing my thumb to brush against his now swollen bottom lip. He surprised me, dipping his chin to capture it between his teeth, not really biting it, just holding it there as his lips closed around the tip before dragging them off. The sharpness of his teeth combined with the sucking sensation of his lips sent another jolt through my body, causing me to whine for more. His hand reached for mine as he turned his head, kissing my palm before wrapping his fingers around my wrist to place it above my head.

He shifted, grabbing my free wrist so it could join with the other one. He trapped them both there with one of his large hands, pausing to watch me - giving me a chance to stop him. I could feel my breathing pickup as I sunk my teeth into my bottom lip in anticipation of whatever he was about to do. The smirk was back as he moved between my thighs to line himself up at my entrance. He sank in slowly, jaw going slack and eyes squeezing shut from the feeling. A quiet groan rumbled in his chest, the sound of it nearly had me coming undone all over again.

I watched as the muscles in his torso tensed. His mouth snapped shut as he took a few deep breaths to center himself, his jaw flexing as he did so. His eyes blinked open, focusing on mine. His free hand dropped to my thigh, snaking under it to lift my leg over his upper arm as he leaned forward and pinned me to the bed. He began to move at an agonizingly slow pace, pausing to grind his hips against me between each thrust. He dipped his head just close enough to run his nose along the contours of my face, ghosting his lips against mine but never fully touching them. It was maddening.

As he increased the pace of his thrusts, his grip on my wrists and leg tightened. He watched me squirm under him, seeking more friction. More of his skin. His mouth. His smug smile told me that he had me exactly where he wanted - under his control and at his mercy. He could have done anything he wanted to me because I couldn’t move under his hold.

I never would have allowed Alec to pin me down like this. I never trusted him enough to have that kind of control over me. But with Dieter, it was different. I wanted him to claim me as his. I wanted him to have his way with me because I knew he wouldn’t take advantage of having that kind of power and I was enjoying every second of it.

I could feel the tension building again, both of us panting and sharing the air between us as he pressed his forehead against mine. His groans became louder as he got closer to his release. His lips finally crashed into mine the moment my core tightened around him. His hand released my wrists and came to rest on my neck as his fingertips and thumb dug into the sides of my face. He whimpered against my lips as he fell over the edge with me, his thrust becoming erratic before his body tensed with a guttural groan deep in his chest. He eventually relaxed against me, nearly dissolving into a puddle as my fingers tangled in his hair.

His arms wrapped around me, shifting us to lay on our sides as he buried his face in my neck. We lay with each other in silence, not having said a word to each other since waking. We didn’t have to. Our bodies did the talking for us.

I wasn’t sure how much time passed before he mumbled out a cheeky, “Good morning,” against my neck. I laughed against the top of his fluffy head as he hugged me tighter. The silence stretched between us again, allowing my mind to begin the self sabotage.

The fact that I was willing to give up that much control to him scared me. I could lose myself to him so easily. Hell, I was pretty sure I already was. A part of me worried that it wouldn’t be enough, that I wouldn’t be enough for him. My past was now working against me, making me question everything. I had been so wrong before, to the point that I now couldn’t trust my own judgement.

As we went through our morning routine, I could feel the funk settling in again. It was in full swing as we walked into the dance studio for rehearsals. The damn song for our performance definitely wasn’t helping. It played over and over again as we worked on perfecting our choreography for the week. I was half tempted to find the instrumental version, just so I didn’t have to hear the lyrics anymore because I felt like they were seriously fucking with my emotions. I definitely didn’t need any help with that.

I became distant again, dissociating and only going through the movements. Dieter realized it, of course, but he didn’t say anything. He only watched me, his mind working double time to try and figure out what was going on. He offered to take breaks often, assuming perhaps that my joints were hurting. He was doing everything right, like he always did.

That evening was spray tan night for the cast. The tanning crew were running behind on setup, which left us waiting longer than normal. I ended up needing to excuse myself to go to a nearby restroom, which turned out to be a terrible idea.

I was just finishing up in the end stall and reaching for the handle when I heard someone mention Dieter’s name. I froze as the voices got louder, clearly thinking they were now alone. One of the voices I didn’t recognize, possibly one of the new dancers, but the more prominent one was definitely Anika.

“She can’t seriously think that whole thing is gonna work out with him, right? She is sooo not his type. Everyone knows that Dieter Bravo is into freaky shit. I seriously doubt Kat can keep up with that. She’s so boring. And…let’s be real…the man is known for hooking up with his cast mates and dumping them when the show’s over. Why would she think she’s any different? Guys like that don’t change. It’s just the way they’re wired. I honestly can’t believe she’s even going there.”

The other girl snickered, “Maybe it’s just a rebound thing…something to keep her distracted after that whole Alec and Lana mess. I can’t blame her, I would jump on that as a distraction too. That man is aging like a fine wine. He’s looking really good lately…and the way he moves, you know he has to be a good fuck.”

Anika sighed loudly, “I know, right? I’m a little disappointed he’s not working his way through the cast. I’ve heard he used to be notorious for that. I know that I definitely wouldn’t tell him no.”

Their voices faded as they exited the room. I sunk against the stall door, clutching at my chest, silently begging my heart to calm itself. As if I needed to be reminded of my doubts. Clearly everyone else thought the same thing, I wasn’t enough for him. He was eventually going to get bored and want something more. Just like Alec did. And my heart was going to be absolutely obliterated by it this time. I couldn’t handle it, not from Dieter.

I spent far longer than I should have in that stall, willing the tears not to come. I finally pulled it together enough to rejoin the group. I could hear the blood pumping in my ears as I moved to stand next to Dieter. He noticed something was wrong immediately, his brows pinching together as he looked at me. I avoided his gaze, shaking my head and saying it was nothing. Across the room, I could see Anika and one of the new cast members giving me the side eye.

Luckily we didn’t have to wait long. They were ready for us soon after that, making sure Dieter and I were the first two in and out in an effort to keep us away from my asshole ex. I was thankful for it, needing to get away from the crowd. They were making me feel claustrophobic all of a sudden. I couldn’t help wondering if everyone who stared at us was thinking the same thing as Anika, that I wasn’t enough for him to keep me around.

We made our way back to our dressing rooms after that. Dieter made sure everything was clear in mine before heading to his. I changed quickly, trying to keep my mind on gathering everything I needed to pack into my gym bag. I soon realized that I really needed some time to myself, to figure out what the fuck was going on in my brain.

Dieter was back at my door within minutes. He had a concerned look in his eyes as he asked what I wanted for dinner. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose as I turned to face him.

“I think…I’m gonna head home for the night. I’ve got a bunch of things that I’ve been neglecting to do…and I need to call my sister. She’s been blowing up my phone about that last TMZ article.”

He inhaled deeply, releasing the breath slowly as he nodded. “Yeah, that’s…fine. I don’t wanna keep you from things.”

I shook my head, “No, you’re not. That’s…on me. I’m procrastinating.”

He pursed his lips as he turned to look down the hallway, rolling his eyes as he looked back toward me. “Alec is wandering around. I’ll walk you to your car.”

I gave him a tight smile, reaching for my bag and throwing it over my shoulder. He walked along beside me, hands shoved deep in the pockets of his jeans as he stared at the ground. I felt like everyone was staring at us as we walked past, which only increased the anxiety I was feeling.

When we got to my car, he pulled the door open for me. His eyes looked sad as they roamed over my face. He swallowed thickly before speaking, “Call me if you need anything, even if it’s just to talk.”

I nodded, forcing a smile before turning to get into the driver's seat. After I fastened my seat belt, he shut the door. I watched him as he walked toward his car, head down as he rubbed at the back of his neck with his right hand. His left, was clenching and unclenching into a tight fist. I sighed, leaning my head against the steering wheel as I took deep breaths.

“What the fuck am I doing? He’s not like Alec.”

I had to keep telling myself that like a mantra as I started the car and drove to my house. By the time I got home, I was spiraling hard. Overhearing Anika had really done a number on me. It had me doubting everything.

I sank back onto the sofa with my phone, wasting no time dialing my sister’s number. She answered on the second ring.

“Well, well. To what do I owe the pleasure?” she said in greeting.

I sighed, “Lyd, I need for you to talk some sense into me…please.”

She sucked in a sharp breath, “What happened? I thought things were going well?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, “It was…it is…it’s just…am I being stupid about this? Do you think I’m enough for him?”

“Oh Kat, honey…don’t do this. Everyone can see that man is obsessed with you. I don’t care how hard you try to hide it.”

I rubbed my palm against my forehead, feeling a headache coming on. “Yeah, right now he may be…and you know how that is with the dancing. The whole dancer connection thing…he may just be feeling that, ya know? I don’t think I’m what he usually goes for. Not from what I’ve seen anyway. What if he gets bored with me? I can be a very boring person.”

She sighed, “Kat, don’t let what happened with Alec get in the way of what you’re building with Dieter. It’s not the same. He is a completely different person. He actually cares about you…I’m not sure that Alec ever really cared about anyone but himself.”

I sunk down further into the cushions, debating if I wanted to say what I was thinking. Because once I did, it was out there. I would be admitting it out loud to myself and my sister.

I let out a stuttered breath as the tears pooled in my eyes, “I think…I’m in love with him, Lydia….and not in the way I was with Alec. That was nothing compared to this. If he doesn’t want this, I won’t be able to handle it. I think…I think I jumped into this too soon. I’m not sure that I’m ready…”

Lydia huffed into the phone, “Have you talked to Dieter about this? If you haven’t you need to.”

I shook my head even though I knew she couldn’t see me, “No. I haven’t. I don’t know what to say. I don’t understand what I’m feeling because I’ve never felt like this before.”

“So tell him that. You never know, he may feel the same way.”

The tears were falling now. I absentmindedly wiped them away, “And if he doesn’t? Then I’ve made an ass of myself.”

“Hmm, well…something tells me he does.”

I let out a controlled breath, “Maybe…I should just slow things down. We’ve been all in from the first second…literally days after I ended a six year, very toxic relationship. I jumped in head first and it’s just going too fast.”

I could hear shuffling on the other end of the line, then a door closing. “What’s happening that makes it fast? Did he ask you to marry him or something?”

I scoffed, “Geez, no.”

“What then? Did he ask you to move in?”

I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. “No. But I mean, I’ve basically lived at his house since we got back from New York.”

She chuckled, “That’s kind of what couples do when they're in the honeymoon phase, Kat. Has he even told you that he loves you yet?”

“Umm, no. He hasn’t. That word has not been said and that discussion not had.”

“So how the hell is it going too fast? Just because you feel like you’re in love with him? Some people feel that the first time they meet their significant other. I did. I knew immediately.”

I whined, “I feel like you’re missing the point. It’s not that simple.”

“Isn’t it though? That’s all it boils down too. You’re worried it’s too soon. It’s not.”

I fell over onto my side, burying my face into a decorative pillow and groaning in frustration. “OK, well…aside from that. I’m still worried he’s gonna get bored with me and move on once the show is over. I’m still not convinced this isn’t just due to the situation and hormones. God…the hormones. I seriously don’t know what he’s done to me. I swear, I could spend a whole weekend in bed with the man and it still wouldn’t be enough.”

Lydia snorted out a laugh, “That good, huh?”

I sighed, “Yes, he is. I’ve let him do things to me no one has ever done…and I want him to do more. He’s addicting. The sex is addicting. That’s not normal…”

“Ehh, please stop there. I don’t wanna know the details of that…”

I let out a humorless laugh, “The sad part is, it’s all been pretty tame. I’m so fucking vanilla.”

“I don’t even know how to respond to that…Look, obviously your cock-whipped. I get it. You haven’t had a decent lay in years. I guess I can see where you're coming from…BUT being in love and lust are completely different. You said he was making a point to make it not about sex, right? That means something…”

I chewed on the inside of my cheek as I considered her words, “Yeah, he does do that. We do go days without doing anything. He’s actually capable of having intimate moments without escalating it.”

“See, that’s why I think it’s something more. He’s putting in the effort. And have you seen the way he looks at you? Even if he hasn’t said it…and maybe he hasn’t put a word to it yet…but I’m fairly certain that man has big feelings for you. He’s never put this kind of effort into a relationship before.”

My brows furrowed in confusion, “What, are you two having secret conversations behind my back? How the hell would you know?”

She laughed nervously, “Well, when my only sister starts seeing a new man after being with an absolute dick for so long…you better bet I’m gonna investigate the fucker. I did my homework…and from what I’ve seen and what you’ve told me, this is different for him too. He’s invested. And if you need proof, get on YouTube and look up videos of you guys rehearsing and dancing. It’s obvious. There’s something there that was never there with Alec. Has he given you any reason to doubt him?”

I sighed, “No…it’s been the opposite actually. He’s been perfect…but that doesn’t mean he won’t get bored with me later.”

It was her turn to sigh, “Well, you have to decide if that’s a risk you’re willing to take. He probably has the same fears, ya know? Especially if he’s as into you as I think he is.”

My head was spinning. She had some good points, and she was right. I needed to decide if I was willing to risk it. So, really, I was right back where I started. My mind was working overtime examining every detail, and in the end, I was really just psyching myself out.

Lydia broke through my thoughts, “So, what was with the social media posts and the TMZ stuff? You guys fucking with them or what because I know my sister’s ass when I see it.”

I snorted out a laugh, “Yeah, something like that. Just keeping Stacia and Joe on their toes more than anything. They were pissed over it.”

She cackled, “Good. They deserve it.”

We hung up soon after that. I had hoped that I would feel better after talking with Lydia, but in reality, I felt even more confused. I took her advice, pulling up YouTube on my phone and entering our names in the search bar. The search results populated every second of our time on the show together. I spent a good hour watching clips, starting with the oldest ones first.

It was obvious from week one that we had chemistry. Even on those filming days that hadn’t been so great, the spark between us was still there. I had joked with him about having heart eyes in recent weeks, but looking back now, he had them all along. The only difference was the longing was no longer there. It was replaced with something else. Happiness maybe?

There was something sort of comforting about seeing his confidence grow through the clips. More than that, seeing our trust in each other grow. There was no hesitation between us now. We were completely at ease with being in each other’s space, anticipating the other’s movements, moving as one. The connection between us when we danced really was something to behold. I could now understand why it had become such a big deal on the show. We weren’t fooling anyone. The fire burning between us was too big to hide.

I was beginning to feel better about things, until I made a major mistake. I opened google and typed in his name. The first thing that popped up in the search results was the most recent TMZ article. I, of course, clicked on it. I took a few minutes to inspect the pictures. I could tell it was me in them, but it really could have been anyone from that distance. Dieter’s broad frame was unmistakable though. Not many people had a shoulder to waist ratio like him.

I scrolled to the bottom of the article, clicking the “Dieter Bravo” tag to see what else came up. I shouldn't have. It linked to an endless amount of articles that showed him out at clubs, women and men hanging off of him. More times than not he had either a cigarette or bottle of liquor in his hand, sometimes both. There were videos of him making out with people. Sometimes more than one person. Some of the faces I recognized from the films he had been in.

What stood out to me was how he was behaving. In some of the clips it was obvious he was high on something. Even in the clips where the paparazzi caught him walking down the street during the day. He looked disheveled and seemed fidgety and agitated as he responded to questions with smart ass remarks. This definitely wasn’t my Dieter.

What caught my attention the most were the types of women he surrounded himself with. They all looked the same, small and curvy with big chests and fish lips - very plastic. Very fake. Very Hollywood. More times than not, he was with multiple women and men as he left a club or after party. I couldn’t help wondering if that was something he was into. Was it his preference to be with multiple people at once? Would I be OK with that if it was? No, I wouldn’t. I don’t share.

I was spiraling again, realizing I wasn’t his usual flavor. Sure, I was fit with a dancer's body. However, where these women were soft, I was not. My body was lean and toned from a lifetime of movement. My boobs were damn near non-existent by their standards. I definitely didn’t have over inflated lips or a straight nose. I was suddenly feeling inadequate in every way when it came to Dieter’s preferences. I didn’t really understand what he saw in me if this was what he typically went for. And if he had a taste for multiples, he was definitely going to get bored with me because that is the one thing I would not do, even for him.

This line of thinking brought me back to the dancer connection, the chemical reaction that happens between two people who are forced into such intimate circumstances for an extended period of time. They bond and form an attachment that quickly fades. I had seen it happen so many times on this show, often fizzling out as soon as the season ended. But there were some couples that didn’t. Some of them were now happily married with a family.

I was questioning my own feelings now. How real were they? Was this just an infatuation? If his feelings were real, would I hurt him? Would he hurt me? He did seem to form attachments to his co-stars and quickly discard them. I didn’t understand why I was so confused. I felt lost. Deep down, I knew the majority of this stemmed from what Alec had put me through. I knew I needed to stop comparing Dieter to that asshole, but I couldn’t help it. Alec was my only real relationship prior to Dieter. It was the only comparison I had. Given Dieter’s history, it didn’t feel like that far of a stretch. However, I knew they were both in completely different places in their lives.

I sighed, tossing my phone on the table before digging my palms into my eyes. My mind was exhausted and so was my body. I reached behind me and pulled the small throw blanket off the back of the couch and covered myself up. I had only intended to take a quick nap, but it turned into something much longer.

It was near 6:30 AM when I awoke from my very restless sleep. My body ached from the crumpled up position I had been sleeping in. I puffed air out of my cheeks and reached for my phone, expecting to see a message from Dieter, but there was nothing.

I felt like shit because I didn’t even tell him goodnight and now he was probably upset. Or, maybe he was happy to have a break from me? I shook that thought away, standing and stretching as I moved toward the shower. I didn’t have a lot of time before I had to be at Television City Studios for show day, so everything turned into a rush.

Dieter was already there waiting with my coffee in hand. He gave me a tentative smile as I approached, taking the coffee from him and immediately inhaling a big gulp. I felt exhausted. I could already tell today would be a struggle.

My eyes met his as I wiped away the excess liquid on my upper lip, “Sorry I didn’t text or call last night. I completely knocked out on the couch, and now I feel like I slept on a bed of rocks.”

His brows pinched together, “Are you good to dance today?”

I nodded, “Yeah, I’ll be fine once I stretch and move around some. I’m just stiff.”

He stood staring at me, looking unconvinced as we were called up to do our camera blocking. I once again found myself zoning out and going through the motions. The routine felt flat because of it. I knew I would need to get it together before the live show or else it wasn’t going to go well.

I was in a daze as we went through our final fitting and hair and makeup. I could tell that Dieter was trying his best to carry the bulk of conversations for us as he snuck concerned glances my way. I tried to act normal, but it was getting harder as the day wore on. My mind was swimming with negative thoughts and they were beginning to overwhelm me. I knew this couldn’t continue. I needed to talk to Dieter about it. It was the only way to fix it. I decided I would after the show.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I forgot my phone as we moved to the staging area, which meant our whole pre-performance hype song tradition was broken. It didn’t seem to phase Dieter. He just shrugged it off saying it wasn’t a big deal. Instead, he pulled me to stand in front of him as we watched the couple before us dance. His arms wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me back against him.

I let his body heat sink into me, wrapping me up like a warm blanket. For a brief second, I forgot it all as I turned to glance up at him. He looked absolutely breathtaking. They had styled his hair in loose curls this time, allowing them to hang freely over his eyes. It was my favorite look on him so far. So much better than that slicked back bullshit they had been doing to him. The silky lavender button up he was wearing emphasized the broadness of his chest and shoulders, hugging his arms in a way that should be criminal.

He seemed to notice me admiring him, causing him to move his mouth close to my ear, close enough that I could feel his warm breath exhaling against it. “I don’t think I’ve told you how amazing you look today. I love this color on you.”

I glanced up at him with a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. It was nice to hear the compliment given that I found myself feeling extremely self conscious today, suddenly very aware of how small the dress made my boobs look. Fucking hell Kat, you’re being ridiculous.

The minutes seemed to shrink to seconds as we waited for our turn. It came much faster than I anticipated. Before I knew it, we were taking our places on the dance floor. As the opening notes of the piano sounded through the ballroom, Dieter approached me from behind, wrapping one arm around my waist to pull me back against him. His free hand rose to my cheek, turning my face so that I would look at him. His nose nuzzled against mine as he caressed down the curve of my neck. His eyes pulled me into a trance-like state, like they always seemed to do when we performed together. The fire between us was set ablaze as I let the lyrics of the song really fully settle into the pit of my gut for the first time. I felt every word, every syllable, and poured those emotions into our performance as he spun me around the dance floor.

A good portion of this routine had us making eye contact, lips grazing, hands gliding over bodies - it was probably our most intimate routine to date and it had me feeling everything. All the things that I had been desperately trying to shove into the box at the back of my mind were now strewn half haphazardly across my mind. It was overwhelming, causing the panic to bubble to the surface. I could feel it in every fiber of my being. I was terrified and unsure if I was ready to fully open my heart up to him, because if he didn’t want this, it would break me in a way that I knew I would struggle to come back from.

I wasn’t strong enough to do this. Even though I didn’t feel this strongly for Alec, he still hurt me. I hadn’t realized how bad until this moment. I was still guarding my heart, struggling to knock down the wall that surrounded it, convinced my relationship with Dieter would eventually meet the same end…because I would never be enough.

I knew Dieter could sense the turmoil in my thoughts. I could see it on his face. It didn’t take long before the tears were prickling at my eyes. I could see his nostrils flare as our eyes met, the panic was spreading to him now. I swear he knew what I was thinking as he seemed to try and reassure me with his eyes and his touch.

Once we reached the end of the song, he surprised me by pulling me into his arms rather than doing a dip as planned. His hands found my cheeks as he pressed his forehead against mine. I could faintly hear him over the roar of the crowd asking me if I was ok as the lights dimmed. I couldn’t speak, because if I did, I would fall apart. So, I shook my head. He leaned in next to my ear and hugged me, “It’s ok, I’ve got you. I’m here.”

When the lights popped back on, I peered up at him with tears in my eyes. He let out a controlled breath before pulling me along behind him to our interview spot. It took everything in me to hold it together through the judges' comments. I could feel Dieter’s arms tensing around me, his embrace tightening like he was trying to hold me together. It was obvious he was distracted as he rambled through his responses to whatever questions he was being asked as he shot worried glances my way.

I knew I had to look like a lunatic on camera with my unblinking gaze fixed on nothing as the storm brewed inside. My breathing was slowly becoming more shallow as I fought back tears, because in that moment I knew that I couldn’t do this. My feelings for him were too much - all consuming. I had never felt anything this intense in my life and it scared the hell out of me. I knew this thing between us was absolutely going to destroy me if I let it go any further. If I gave that last piece of myself over to him, and he decided he wanted to move on after this, I wouldn’t survive it.

I didn’t register what our scores were, simply going through the motions as Dieter forced a smile and hugged me against his side. Once they gave the signal that the camera was no longer on us, I pulled away, intent on going to my dressing room before I completely broke down in front of everyone. I couldn’t be in the middle of all the chaos of the show right now, I needed to be somewhere where I could breathe.

By the time I stepped into the hallway, I was struggling for air as tears flooded my vision. I could hear Dieter behind me brushing off questions from the cast and crew as he trailed behind me. He called my name several times as he ran to catch up to me just as I was entering my dressing room. I moved to shut the door before he could enter, but his large hand stopped it. I looked up, our eyes connecting through the crack. I could see the panic on his pleading face, like he already knew.

“Kat, talk to me. Please.”

I couldn’t hold back anymore, turning away from him as I buried my face in my hands and fought back the sobs that were threatening to break free. I heard the door close behind me, then his hands were on my shoulders, pulling me toward him. I shrugged him off and stepped away. When I finally turned to face him, the tears were flowing freely. Am I really gonna do this? Yes. Yes, I am.

The look on his face nearly split my heart in half and had me second guessing everything.

“Dieter…I-I don’t think I can do this anymore.”

He shook his head from side to side, “Kat, don’t… please.”

“I’m sorry, it’s…just too much…and I don’t know if any of what we’re feeling is real. I think…I think we just need to put on the brakes, at least until the show’s over. This is just too much, too fast. I can’t do it.”

Understanding seemed to cross his expression, “You think this is just another on set fling for me?”

I sighed, “I-I don’t know. The circumstances we’re in, it’s not unusual for dance partners to have intense emotions like this. What we do, it requires a lot of trust and a bond that doesn’t always last after the dancing ends.”

He came closer, hands reaching for me, but pausing to pull back at the last minute, “So, then we don’t stop dancing. I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep you in my life, Kat.”

His voice broke as he spoke. He was on the verge of tears himself now.

I backed away, shaking my head, determined to stick to my decision. “I can’t. This was a bad idea. It was too soon, for the both of us.”

His hands fisted at his sides as the tears slid down his cheeks, “I asked you…and you said you were sure. I told you from the beginning that I can’t go back to the way things were before. I meant it when I said it was all or nothing for me…and you said you were sure.”

The memory of that night on the terrace in New York flooded all of my senses. The thrill and excitement that I had been feeling left no room in my mind to consider the consequences of our actions. All I knew then was that I wanted him, consequences be damned. I never imagined we would end up here.

He sighed, wiping at his face. “I know…my history doesn’t work in my favor, OK? I realize that…but I’m not that person anymore. Any remaining pieces of that person completely disappeared the moment I walked into that dance studio the first day. All those times before, they meant nothing to me and I’ve told you that. I didn’t have feelings for any of those people. I don’t even remember half of them…I wasn’t in a good place…I just wanted to feel something, but I didn’t. I was numb to it all…until you. I need you to understand that.”

My heart was shattering seeing him like this. His response was visceral and raw. He was saying all the right things. I wanted to believe him, but I had been here before. I had heard a similar plea from Alec the first time he fucked up. I wanted to trust Dieter. My gut was telling me that I could, but my heart was building the wall taller. I stood in silence, watching every emotion play out on his face as I thought through things. He looked almost hopeful as I began to speak, but it quickly faded.

“I - I…can’t. I just can’t. I wasn’t ready for this…I didn’t expect to…” fall in love with you.

My words trailed off. I couldn’t say it out loud, realizing this was the first time that I had ever actually been in love with someone. I don’t know what it was with Alec, but it wasn’t this. It was nothing close to this.

I shook my head, “I’m sorry, Dieter. I can’t go through this again.”

His mouth fell open as he huffed out a breath, “You…don’t believe that I’ve changed?”

Fuck. That wasn’t what I was implying at all. I shook my head, “Dieter, no…I...”

He held up his hand, rolling his lips together as he nodded, like he understood everything now. He seemed stoic all of a sudden, his distant eyes roaming over me like it was the last time before turning toward the door. He didn’t even bother to close it behind him as he disappeared down the hallway.

My heart shattered into a million pieces as realization set in. I could sugar coat it all I wanted, but he wasn’t wrong. When I dug down to the root of the issue, it was because of his past. The seed had been planted and completely poisoned my thoughts and emotions against him. I had unintentionally done the one thing that would cut him the deepest, I didn’t believe in him - I didn’t believe he had changed.

I didn’t know where to start or how to handle this. So, I did the only thing I could do at that moment. I moved to close the door, then turned to press my back against it. After sliding down to sit on the floor, I pulled my knees to my chest and buried my face to muffle the sobs that raked through my body. I had made such a mess of everything, handling it in the worst way possible and completely fucking it all up.

Tonight, I would go home. To my home - alone. I would spend the night replaying the last few weeks over and over in my mind, chastising myself as I tried to figure out where things went wrong and what I actually wanted. I felt overwhelmed and broken for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with Dieter, yet he was the one being punished and I was the one punishing him.

Next: Week 9

✨Your Viennese Waltz video for this chapter can be found HERE. It's a steamy one. 😏

Hello my lovelies! Finally! A new chapter! Yay! 😬

Are you ready to come at me with pitch forks now? We knew the honeymoon period could only last so long, right? Kat has been in her head about this the whole time. I was surprised more people didn't see it coming...I think there was only one that sort of got it?

So, this chapter was a little different. We were very much in Kat's head and focused less on what was happening around her because she was focused less on it. Though...there was that steamy quality time with Dieter that she was very present for. 🤭

And before you ask, I did not list this week's song on purpose. There is a reason. We will find out what it was later...but there are hints. If someone can figure it out, I'll be nice and answer any question you have, even if it's a spoiler. 😏

The next chapter is going to be a doozy. There will be more angst. Dieter is going to have a little bit of a blow up (on camera). Kat has another conversation with her sister and it goes about like you might expect it to. There is so much scheming going on from Stacia, Joe, and Anika! Dieter struggles a bit and we get a classic misunderstanding. And something I'm sort of excited about...one of the characters we love to hate might get a little bit of a redemption arc. Any guesses on who?

Until next time, 💜Mysty

P.S. It seems some of my minor edits were not saved. If you see errors, that's on me because I'm too lazy to go through it all again. 😅

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#dieter bravo #pedro pascal fanfiction

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